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Melbourne fashion firm removes Lord Ganesha bootys within 24 hours of Hindu protest
 
Melbourne (Australia) based fashion label “Soulan Zee” withdrew bootys carrying images of Hindu deity Lord Ganesha from its website within less than 24 hours after upset Hindus protested, calling it “highly inappropriate”.
 
Designer Leyla Raif of Soulan Zee, in an email to distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed who spearheaded the protest asking for withdrawal of this objectionable product, wrote: “I have since removed all items entailing the Ganesha print from my website. I had no intention to offend anyone by producing these printed garments and have now stopped production of them, all items are removed from the website.”

Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, thanked Soulan Zee for understanding the concerns of Hindu community which thought image of Lord Ganesha on such a product was highly insensitive.
 
Rajan Zed, however, pointed out that they were still waiting for a formal apology from Soulan Zee and its CEO to the upset Hindu community.
 
Zed suggested that fashion companies should send their senior executives for training in religious and cultural sensitivity so that they had an understanding of the feelings of customers and communities when introducing new products or launching advertising campaigns.
 
Rajan Zed had said that Lord Ganesha was highly revered in Hinduism and was meant to be worshipped in temples or home shrines and not to adorn one’s buttocks and crotch. Inappropriate usage of Hindu deities or concepts for commercial or other agenda was not okay as it hurt the devotees.
 
Hinduism was the oldest and third largest religion of the world with about 1.1 billion adherents and a rich philosophical thought and it should not be taken frivolously. Symbols of any faith, larger or smaller, should not be mishandled, Zed had noted.
 
Rajan Zed had stated that such trivialization of Hindu deities was disturbing to the Hindus world over. Hindus were for free artistic expression and speech as much as anybody else if not more. But faith was something sacred and attempts at trivializing it hurt the followers, Zed added.
 
Ganesha Bootys, described as “perfect outfit for festivals, parties and events” and “Sexy high waisted boooootys”, were priced at AU$40.00. Soulan Zee, an Australia fashion label which claims to have created custom pieces for American singer-actress Miley Cyrus, describes itself as “psychedelic clothing for dreamers” and believes in “living life to the fullest”. Created by designer Leyla Raif, its all garments are claimed to be “designed and handmade with love in Melbourne”. Besides online sales on its website; it has stockists in Northcote (Victoria), various online stockists in USA and United Kingdom and ships to all-over Australia, USA, United Kingdom, China, India, Sweden and New Zealand.

Hindus seek Diwali holiday in all Washington schools
 
Hindus are urging all public school districts and private-charter-independent schools in Washington State to close on Diwali, most popular of their festival, which falls on October 19 this year.
 
Many public school districts in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania have already reportedly declared day-off for students on October 19.
 
Distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada today, said that it would be a step in the positive direction, as it was important to meet the religious and spiritual needs of Hindu pupils.
 
Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, indicated that schools should make efforts to accommodate the religious requirements of Hindu students and show respect to their faith by not conducting regular business and scheduling classes on Diwali. We did not want our students to be put at an unnecessary disadvantage for missing tests/examinations/papers, assignments, class work, etc., by taking a day-off to observe Diwali.
 
If schools had declared other religious holidays, why not Diwali, Rajan Zed asked. Holidays of all major religions should be honored and no one should be penalized for practicing their religion, Zed added.
 
Zed suggested that all Washington schools, public-private-charter-independent, to seriously look into declaring Diwali as an official holiday, thus recognizing the intersection of spirituality and education. Zed noted that awareness about other religions thus created by such holidays like Diwali would make Washington students well-nurtured, well-balanced, and enlightened citizens of tomorrow.
 
Rajan Zed urged Washington Governor Jay Inslee, Washington Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal and Washington State Board of Education Acting Chair Kevin Laverty; to work towards adding Diwali as an official holiday in all the state’s public schools, and persuading the private-charter-independent schools to follow.
 
Zed further says that Hinduism is rich in festivals and religious festivals are very dear and sacred to Hindus. Diwali, the festival of lights, aims at dispelling the darkness and lighting up the lives and symbolizes the victory of good over evil.